02-15-2006, 12:08 PM
Woman's autism provides insightful link to animals
BY VIKAS TURAKHIA
Newhouse News Service
15th February 2006
Readers whose understanding of autism goes little beyond Dustin Hoffman's performance in "Rain Man" or Mark Haddon's "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" will find "Animals in Translation" (Harvest, $15), by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson, a revelation.
Grandin, who is autistic, has developed an uncanny ability to understand animals and their thought processes by working with them for more than 40 years. She is no whisperer who claims rarified powers to soothe and train combative animals. Rather, Grandin relies on her experiences as an autistic person. Her insight into the visual cues that spook cattle has led to the redesign of slaughterhouses.
Grandin believes she sees the world much as animals do, describing autism as "a kind of way station on the road from animals to humans" that puts her "in a perfect position to translate 'animal talk' into English."
Through Grandin's experiences and documented research, the authors provide a fascinating look at the genius found in creatures ranging from squirrels to cows. The result is an intriguing compilation of studies and observations that are as insightful about animal behavior as they are about autism.
BY VIKAS TURAKHIA
Newhouse News Service
15th February 2006
Readers whose understanding of autism goes little beyond Dustin Hoffman's performance in "Rain Man" or Mark Haddon's "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" will find "Animals in Translation" (Harvest, $15), by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson, a revelation.
Grandin, who is autistic, has developed an uncanny ability to understand animals and their thought processes by working with them for more than 40 years. She is no whisperer who claims rarified powers to soothe and train combative animals. Rather, Grandin relies on her experiences as an autistic person. Her insight into the visual cues that spook cattle has led to the redesign of slaughterhouses.
Grandin believes she sees the world much as animals do, describing autism as "a kind of way station on the road from animals to humans" that puts her "in a perfect position to translate 'animal talk' into English."
Through Grandin's experiences and documented research, the authors provide a fascinating look at the genius found in creatures ranging from squirrels to cows. The result is an intriguing compilation of studies and observations that are as insightful about animal behavior as they are about autism.